Praedicator

Verba

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 - 1st Week of Advent - Tues

[Isa 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24]

On that day, a shoot shall spring from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him... [Isaiah]

Isaiah and Jesus speak to us today of a spiritual longing. The majestic vision in Isaiah begins with the words, "On that day....." Jesus tells his disciples that the longing of "prophets and kings" has appeared in his person. This is a longing that is born of faith. The Advent season seeks to capture this spiritual longing and help us all to focus on "the reason for the season.' The 18th century American painter, Edward Hicks sought to capture Isaiah's vision in art, The Peaceable Kingdom. In the vision and the painting, natural enemies become friends. Reconciliation becomes the ruling spirit.

For many people in this season the longing is focused on just getting through it. There is loss of all kinds that is intensified by the demands of expectations and gift-giving as well as preparations for visiting relatives. The Peaceable Kingdom and Jesus' assurances that we are more privileged than "the wise and the learned"and "prophets and kings" seem to demand more faith than our situations can muster. Yet, the intentional effort to focus on a longing in this season is worth it. Otherwise we can indeed be overwhelmed. What is our particular longing that we can bring before the figure in the manger? Indeed, it takes faith to acknowledge whom that figure represents! If the Magi thought that journey was worth the making, so is ours. Their longing is ours too.

The Peaceable Kingdom could be our particular situations whether in family, friends, neighborhood, city, nation or world. Consider the longings of those who will spend this season in refugee camps, just to mention one example. Advent directs us to all these longings and offers us a way to express them. AMEN